Being one of New Zealand’s top rodeo riders, Sky Sanders has had some rough rides. Now the 18-year-old Central Otago barrel racer, breakaway roper and team roper is on "a full ride" — a scholarship to Howard College in Texas, where she will get a fully paid tertiary education and training from some of the world’s top rodeo riders, including one of her idols, Taylor Munsell. Competition for rodeo scholarships is fierce in the United States, but after watching videos of her in competition, the college saw great skill and potential in her. Ms Sanders’ list of accolades shows she is more than capable. At age 11, she won her first New Zealand national junior barrel racing title. In her first year of adult competition in 2024, she won the national rookie barrel racing title and break open — a milestone achievement in anyone’s career. Since then, she has also made two National Finals Rodeos in the breakaway event, and been on numerous representative trips to the United States and Australia.…